Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Arapahoe County

Cherry Creek State Park crime surge prompts overnight closure for non-campers
DENVER7, Approved, Local

Cherry Creek State Park crime surge prompts overnight closure for non-campers

By Robert Garrison | Denver7 Local residents say the park’s condition has worsened CHERRY CREEK STATE PARK, Colo. — Park officials said that an increase in crime and large parties has led to the decision to close Cherry Creek State Park overnight. A Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson stated that park rangers have observed an increase in after-dark, unpermitted parties in the park. CPW said these gatherings have led to an increase in vandalism, trash, and noise violations within the park. Due to these concerns, park rangers said the state park will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The only visitors allowed in the park during this time are campers, who must present their camping reservations to gain entry. Local residents say the park’s condition has worsened, and ...
Colorado’s largest TdA gang bust exposes murder-for-hire and international drug pipeline
DENVER7, Approved, Local

Colorado’s largest TdA gang bust exposes murder-for-hire and international drug pipeline

By Joe Vaccarelli, Landon Haaf | Denver7 The massive investigation included roughly 40 undercover operations over 10 months and also unearthed a "barbaric" murder-for-hire plot. DENVER — What was described as “the biggest investigation” of the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua in the country unfolded in Colorado over the past 10 months, federal officials announced on Monday, netting 30 indictments of people allegedly involved in drug and weapons trafficking and a “barbaric” murder-for-hire plot. U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly said Monday that investigators estimated three TdA leaders, five alleged members and “numerous” associates of the gang were charged in the operation. The investigation started in October of 2024 when the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office started looking i...
Denver housing sales tracking at slower pace as inventory hits highest since 2011
Denverite, Approved, Local

Denver housing sales tracking at slower pace as inventory hits highest since 2011

By Andrew Kenney | Denverite There were 14,000 single-family homes, condos and townhomes for sale around the Denver metro at the end of July.  That meant homebuyers had more options than at any time since 2011 — though it was only a slight increase in inventory from the month before, according to the latest report from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. Housing inventory is piling up because homes are selling more slowly. Just a few years ago, most homes were selling in under a week. But the typical single-family home now takes 20 days to sell, and some sit around much longer.  The DMAR report covers 11 counties around Denver, including Boulder, Jefferson, Douglas, Adams and Arapahoe. The slower pace of sales also gives buyers more time and leverage to ask...
Charges Dropped as Predator Found Incompetent in Aurora Playground Attempt
Local, Approved, kdvr.com

Charges Dropped as Predator Found Incompetent in Aurora Playground Attempt

By Hanna Powers | KDVR Fox 31 ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — A registered sex offender accused of attempting to kidnap a child from a playground will not face prosecution after a judge dismissed the case due to a finding of permanent incompetence. Carmen Galligan — previously known as Solomon — was charged in connection with an attempted kidnapping at Black Forest Hills Elementary in April 2024. According to police, Galligan targeted multiple children who were playing outside, sparking panic among parents and neighbors. But in court Thursday, a judge dismissed the case after doctors at Fort Logan State Hospital determined Galligan has a chronic mental condition and will never be competent to stand trial. “This is a case where the victims expressed great fear at what happened t...
Coloradans rally after school abduction case tossed under new ‘incompetence’ law—demanding legislative change
DENVER7, Approved, State

Coloradans rally after school abduction case tossed under new ‘incompetence’ law—demanding legislative change

By Natalie Chuck , Joe Vaccarelli | Denver7 Legislation passed last year states that a judge must dismiss charges if a suspect is found incompetent to stand trial and not restorable ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — A state lawmaker, elected officials and community members called for legislative action on Wednesday, stating that a state law requiring courts to drop charges against individuals found to be incompetent needs to be revised. This comes after news that a suspect accused of attempting to kidnap children at an Aurora elementary school last year will have the case dropped sparked outrage and received national attention. "When we're looking at this law, it needs to be reconsidered,” said Susan Payne, founder and former executive director of Safe2Tell. Solomon Galliga...
Arapahoe Sheriff Investigates Massive Theft of Nintendo Game Consoles
Local, denvergazette.com

Arapahoe Sheriff Investigates Massive Theft of Nintendo Game Consoles

Arapahoe County Sheriff investigating 2,810 consoles stolen from Love’s Truck Stop days after Nintendo Switch 2 launch. By Michael Braithwaite | The Denver Gazette Just like Nintendo gaming villain Wario, these thieves were looking for their gold mine. More than $1.4 million worth of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles were stolen in a heist from a semi-truck parked at a Love's Truck Stop on June 8, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office. During a pre-trip inspection of his cargo, the truck driver — parked at the stop in the 1100 block of South 1st Street in Bennett — found several pallets with 2,810 consoles of the newly released Nintendo Switch to have been stolen, according to a news release from the office. The thievery took place just three days after the console was ...
40% of Arapahoe roads rated poor—even after tax hike
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

40% of Arapahoe roads rated poor—even after tax hike

By Ashley Portillo | CBS Colorado With years of deferred maintenance and not enough funding, some Arapahoe County roads are not getting the repairs they need and are quickly falling apart. County leaders say it's in part due to a major shortfall with the overall county budget and inflation. However, the county hopes that additional revenue generated by the passage of a ballot measure last November might help make much-needed road improvements. The county's 2024 "Annual Report and Infrastructure Report Card" released this May shares more information about the status of the county's roads. The annual report assesses Arapahoe County's $1.7 billion in infrastructure, including roads and bridges, traffic signals, signs and guardrails. With more than 800 miles of roads to m...
10 months after killing Kaitlyn Weaver, ICE arrests illegal teen prosecutors let walk
Approved, Fox News, Local

10 months after killing Kaitlyn Weaver, ICE arrests illegal teen prosecutors let walk

By Louis Casiano | Fox News The youth was sentenced to probation and community service in a plea deal for the July 2024 death of Kaitlyn Weaver An illegal immigrant teenager who was spared jail time after he was convicted of killing a Colorado woman in a high-speed crash has been arrested, along with his family, by immigration authorities.  The 16-year-old from Colombia was sentenced to probation and community service for the July 2024 death of Kaitlyn Weaver, 24, in Aurora after striking a plea deal with prosecutors.  The teen, who has not been publicly named because of state laws that shield the identity of underage criminal suspects, was arrested May 20 along with his family, who were also living in the United States illegally, U.S. Immigration and Custom...
Two CVRs, one pattern: Arapahoe County rewrote its election record, critics say–and no one’s accountable
Approved, Local, National, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Two CVRs, one pattern: Arapahoe County rewrote its election record, critics say–and no one’s accountable

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice Arapahoe County quietly replaced its 2020 general election cast vote record (CVR) in early 2025 – years after the election was certified. The change came without public notice, audit, or oversight. The reason? A Yale professor raised concerns about a strange pattern in the data. That pattern, according to a growing number of analysts and lawmakers, was more than just strange. It was statistically impossible. “This is like flipping a coin 3,500 times and getting heads every time,” said Dr. Walter Daugherity, a Harvard-trained computer scientist who presented forensic findings at a press conference held Tuesday on the west steps of the Colorado Capitol. RMV covered the lead-up to the event in a story titled Analyst to reveal altered Arapahoe 20...
Analyst to reveal altered Arapahoe 2020 CVR at Tuesday Capitol press conference
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Analyst to reveal altered Arapahoe 2020 CVR at Tuesday Capitol press conference

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice A nationally recognized computer scientist will present what he says is direct evidence of vote data manipulation in Arapahoe County's 2020 election – and altered ballot records in a newly released 2025 file – at a May 27 press conference at the Colorado State Capitol. Dr. Walter Daugherity, a Harvard-trained expert in computer science and election auditing, is set to speak at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday on the west steps of the Capitol. According to a press release circulated Wednesday, Daugherity will walk the public through four exhibits that show what he describes as "a manipulated cast vote record" and evidence that votes were changed at the ballot level. The core claim: Two cast vote records, one election Cast vote records (CVRs) are...